Wednesday, February 26, 2014

If you are in the market for a new bike this season ladies, a great starting point is the Specialized Amira Comp:

For women who live to compete – whether it's a local crit or a city-line sprint with the weekend group– the Amira Comp offers a light, stiff FACT carbon frame with women's tuned geometry for optimal fit and performance, plus lightweight, FSA crank, high value Shimano Ultegra components, and Fulcrum S5 wheels.

Monday, February 24, 2014

How Much Attention Do You Pay To Your Shifting Technique?

Bike parts can be expensive. It is important to learn how to use all of the equipment on your bike so that you can use it properly and get the longest life out of your investment.

An important rule to remember is: reduce your applied pressure on the pedals during shifts. As drivetrains have improved over the years, the have been designed to shift no matter how much pressure is put on the pedals. However, if you ease up on the pressure just a bit, the shifts will be smoother and your chain, cogs and chainrings will last longer.

Here are some more tips to help keep your drivetrain in great working order:

1. Keeping Your Drivetrain Clean:

Before we even get into proper shifting, it is important to make sure you keep your drivetrain clean and tuned up to extend the life of your drivetrain. We have chain cleaners for sale in the shop that can help get your chain clean and keep it that way.

2. Every six months or so, inspect your chain and measure to see if it has been stretching.
Pick a chain pin on the top side and measure to any pin 12 inches away. Links are exactly one-inch long, so you should be able to measure exactly 12 inches between two pins. If the measurement is 12 1/8 inch or longer, it's time to replace the chain.

(Check Your Cogs too!)

Remember: cogs wear out at about the same rate as the chain. If you put on a new chain, you will eventually run into skipping cogs - which is at best annoying and at worst dangerous!
Remember to keep the front rings and rear cogs clean. Stay on the lookout for a post about how to clean your chain and drivetrain!

On The Road Tips:

3. Shift Before Hills:
Even though the hardest place to put less pressure on your pedals is when you are struggling to get up a steep hill. Try changing gears before the steep part of the hill so you can make the shift with out stressing the chain and pedals.

4. Front Shifts:
Remember when you are shifting the front derailleur that the chainrings are significantly different in size! This means your derailleur has to work hard to move the chain from one to the other. If you can add some finesse to this shift, you are much more likely to get a clean, smooth shift. And, you'll eliminate problems associated with high pressure shifts such as having the chain come off.
There are three or four set spots (shift ramps/shift gates) on the chainrings to make it shift. The chain (while moving forward) needs to contact these ramps to be pulled up onto or down over the chainring. It is very important to hold the shift until the chain comes into contact with a shift ramp. When the chain is under load (meaning there is force on the pedals) this is the ony spot where the chain will shift. Ideally shifting should be done with little load on the chain. When the chain is under load the derailleur will just flex and laugh at you instead of making the shift happen. When there is no load on the chain the derailleur will be able to move it.

5. Getting Your Chain BACK On:Usually, you can shift the chain right back on the chainring if it falls off. This is usually impossible when climbing a hill, as you will lose momentum and have to stop. However, any time you are riding and you can coast for a few seconds, you can almost always get the chain back on by gently pedaling and shifting the front derailleur to move the chain toward the ring.
(When a chain comes off repeatedly, something is wrong and you should have us take a look at the front derailleur adjustment.)

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Our
staff is experienced in wheel building or helping you choose just the
right components to put on a bare frame. Prices will vary depending on
the parts, of course.

Specialized Crux with SRAM Force 22 and Roval CLX40 wheels.

This frame set only STRBRST color Specialized Crux is one good example.
This picture isn't quite current. The seat post and bars have both been
replaced with S-Works versions. It's set up with SRAM Force 22 shifters
and cranks, a Ritchey WCS stem, a Toupé Pro saddle with carbon rails,
Avid Shorty canti's and the sweet Roval CLX 40 wheels.

Another frame only build, this bike ended up with nicer bars, a perfect
fitting bike, and his wheels of choice. It was one of the first Force 22
equipped bikes out there.

This Waterford-made Schwinn Paramount had some broken Dura Ace 7400
parts and worn out Mavic wheels. Some Nitto bars, carbon threadless fork
and an older Ultegra 10 speed double set up made this bike ride like a
dream. Weighs 18 lbs.

You may be asking, "are there any places to ride my new mountain bike in the Beaumont area?"

The answer is yes, some, but we do have some resources to help you find some places to ride.

VILLAGE CREEK STATE PARK
has several miles of single track, and while sometimes a bit sandy, is a
great place to start out or refine your skills. $3 day pass per
person.SAM HOUSTON JONES STATE PARK
is a favorite among a lot of people. It's around an hour east of
Beaumont, just north of Lake Charles. Here you'll find some mild
elevation changes, some roots, and a really beautiful park.

Jack Brooks
is one of my favorites. It is highly technical and difficult. It can be
a maze at first. It is really well maintained and the trail steward
shuts it down if the trail is wet at all.

Memorial Park is not
usually one I recommend. Because of too many riders ignoring trail
closures, they are too worn in the main part of the park. "The
Triangle," which is hidden on the maps, is worth riding but not worth
the drive.

The Anthills/Hershey Park is a long trail along
Buffalo Bayou. It will make you wonder why we can't have nice stuff like
that in Beaumont. Take the Eldridge Pkwy exit off I10 just past 610W.
Parking is on Memorial Dr.

Ride Faster, Farther, and Reduce Risk of Injury or Re-injury when You Get a BG Fit

A
rider of of any skill level or experience can benefit from a better
fitting bike. There is nothing more important to the ride than the fit.
Our BG Fit technician is knowledgable and passionate about bike fit. You
may also want to read a brief article on how bicycles are sized.
You can also watch this Specialized video

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Ride Faster and Finish Stronger Than Ever!

You know how important it is to have strong leg muscles when cycling, because they provide the most tangible source of power. If you have strong leg muscles, this is how you are able to start every ride strong and get up to a nice riding speed. Soon though, you find yourself getting back aches, and feeling tired in the saddle.
The problem is, "You can have all the leg-strength in the world, but without a stable core you won't be able to use it efficiently," says Graeme Street, founder of Cyclo-CORE, and a personal trainer in Essex, Connecticut.
Your abs and lower back are the vital foundation from which all movement, including your pedal stroke, stems. What's more, a solid core will help eliminate unecessary upper-body movement, so all the energy you produce is delivered into a smooth pedal stroke.
It only takes about 10 minutes to complete this intense routine designed by Street.
Dimity McDowell of Bicycling.com and Street say that if you do this routine, in this order, three times a week you will create a core that lets you ride faster, longer, more powerfully - and finish stronger than ever.

A. Lie with the middle of your back on a stability ball, your knees bent 90 degrees and your feet flat on the floor. Place your hands behind your head, but don't pull on your neck.

B. Squeezing your belly button toward your spine, lift your upper back off the ball. Keeping your shoulders off the ball, trace a clockwise oval with your torso. Apply pressure with your lower back to keep the ball still through the entire motion. After 15 clockwise ovals, trace 15 counterclockwise.

Why It Works: Despite the straightforward motion of the bike, your body moves in three directions: forward as you head down the road, vertically as your legs pedal up and down, and laterally as your hips and upper body rock side to side. "This fluid, circular exercise builds control," says Street, and that helps you minimize lateral torsion and wasted motion.

B. In one smooth motion, squeeze your glutes, raise your hips off the floor and push up from your heels to form a straight line from shoulders to knees; toes come off the floor slightly. Hold for two seconds. Keeping your toes raised, lower yourself three-quarters of the way to complete one rep. Do 20 repetitions.

Why It Works: In addition to stretching the hip flexors, often extremely stiff in cyclists, the bridge strengthens the link between your lower back and glutes.

3.Hip extensionWhat It Works: Lower back, hamstrings, glutes

A. Lying with your hips and stomach on the stability ball, put your hands on the floor directly under your shoulders, and extend your legs with toes resting on the floor.

B. With a straight spine and shoulder blades back, as if you're trying to make them touch, lift both legs off the floor, keeping them straight. If possible, raise them slightly higher than parallel to the floor. Hold for two seconds and lower. Do 20 reps.

Why It Works: This movement builds backside strength, for added efficiency on the second half of the pedal stroke.

4. Plank

What It Works: Transverse abdominus, upper and lower back

A. Lying on your stomach, place your elbows under your shoulders with forearms and hands on the floor.

B. Lift your hips off the floor, keeping your back straight and abs tight, and rest on your toes. Aim for 60 seconds.

Why It Works: The plank builds the strength and muscular endurance you need to ride powerfully in the drops or in an aero position long after others have surrendered to the top of the handlebar.5.

Transverse Plank What It Works: Transverse abdominus and obliques

A. Lie on your right side, with your right elbow under your shoulder, forearm in front for stability, and stack your left foot on your right. Raise your left arm over your head.

B. In one motion, lift your hips to create a straight line down your left side. Lower your hips a few inches off the floor; do 10 to 15 reps, then switch sides.

Why It Works: Strong obliques improve your stability in the saddle, letting you take on hairpin corners with more control and speed.

A. Lying on your back with legs straight, place both hands palms down under your lower back.

B. Pushing your elbows down into the floor and pulling your belly button toward your spine, raise your shoulders off the floor and look toward the ceiling. Raise your leg 4 inches off the ground and scissor them: left leg over right, then right over left. That's one rep. Work up to 100.

Why It Works: A comprehensive movement that connects key cycling muscles, the kick also builds inner-thigh muscles, which help you achieve hip, knee and forefoot alignment for a proper and efficient pedal stroke

7. CatapultWhat It Works: Entire core

A. Sitting with a slight bend in your knees, press your heels against the floor. Extend arms to the front at shoulder height, palms facing each other.

B. With a straight spine and upward gaze, inhale deeply, then exhale and slowly lower your torso to the floor over five counts as you inhale. Arms are overhead.

C. In one smooth movement, leading with the arms, exhale and explode back to the starting position. Do 20 reps.

Why It Works: Contrary to its name, the catapult encourages supreme body control.

8. Boat PoseWhat It Works: Transverse abdominus, lower back

A. Sit, resting both hands lightly behind you, and lean back until your torso is at a 45-degree angle.

B. Keeping your legs together, lift them off the floor as you extend arms forward at shoulder height. Abs are tight, as thighs and torso form a 90 degree angle. If your hamstrings are tight, you'll need to bend your knees a little. Work up to holding for 60 seconds.

Why It Works: As with the plank, this pose builds the lower-back stability and core strength needed to remain bent over the handlebar for hours, or to blast up hills without compromising power or speed.

Following this regimen will give you some improvement in your core strength, riding ability and endurance. Stay Tuned to our blog for more cycling tips!

From Bikemag.com:
It was no surprise when Specialized issued a 29er version of the Epic
last year. If ever there was a bike that cried out for a big-wheel
makeover, it was this one. The Epic is a dyed-in-the-wool racer. Big
wheels can shave minutes off your race time. Put the two together? Of
course. It’s like peanut butter and jelly, beans and rice, clowns and
terrified children: some things just belong together.
While no bike is fast, in and of itself, I found myself covering
ground at a much quicker clip aboard the Epic; a sensation akin to
sprouting a spare lung. What truly surprised me, however, was how much
fun the Epic is to ride. The Epic joins the very short list of 29er
bikes that play nicely with tight terrain. The bike is ridiculously
nimble. There’s none of the sluggish, motor home handling that plagues
some 29ers.

Another highlight? Aboard the Epic, switchbacks don’t present you
with that dreaded 29er, “holy crap, my bottom bracket is seventy feet
tall” tipping sensation. That is because the 13-inch-high bottom bracket
is only marginally higher than those of 29ers from the likes of Pivot,
Santa Cruz and Trek. In fact, it is low enough to translate into a fair
amount of pedal smacking on rocky trails.

This Epic Comp Carbon 29er sports a carbon front triangle mated to an
M5 aluminum rear end and is the most affordable of the carbon-framed
Epics. Suspension duties are handled by a 100-millimeter RockShox Reba
RlT 29 up front and a Fox/Specialized FlowControl Mini Brain rear shock.

Come see the bikes we have to offer at Bicycle Sports! We are located at:

With traditional frames, welders need to rely on craftmanship and material to make tubes meet properly. Smartweld creates rolled edges at the tube ends; when these are offered up to each other they form a V-shaped channel that makes for amuch more consistent weld joint and increases stiffness hugely. --------->

Delivering increased comfort and efficiency when cornering, and featuring Blackbelt protection for fewer flats, this wheelset and tire group is high-performance, durable, reliable and confident with low rolling resistance.

Also comes with an FSA Gossamer BB30 50/34 chainset and yes, the Allez frame is now oversized at the bottom bracket like the Tarmac. Shimano non-series brakes reduce price and still perform well enough in most conditions.

The Specialized ergonomically designed, Riva Body Geometry saddle is lab tested to ensure blood flow to sensitive arteries, which alleviates rider discomfort. Short-reach drop bars improve a rider's position to create a more comfortable, confident position for long rides. If you don't like the height of the cockpit, you can switch it out for a regular reach drop bar for a slamming, racy ride.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Being A Move (or Five) Ahead of Motorists

Anyone who has ridden a bike for an extended period of time has probably had some close calls when cycling in heavy — sometimes even light traffic. While some of those times may be a result of carelessness or multitasking on the part of the rider, we are all too well aware of how distracted and careless drivers can be.
It should suffice to say that defensive riding is the number one way to prevent accidents when out there in the cold street. One reason for that comes from this road proverb: You can drive a truck between what motorists ought to do - what they're legally obliged to do - versus what they actually do. Just because I have the right of way does not mean I can proceed in the comfort that my rights, life and limb will not be violated.
So let's examine a few of the most common places to be aware of danger so that you may avoid nasty collisions or falls.
Cars Turning Right
When passing a motorist (or when one passes you) take a quick second to look through the window of the car. You will be amazed at how much you can divine of a motorist's knowledge and intentions.
Did he see you? Is he looking in his rear or side view mirror? Is he slowing down to make the right turn? Is he concentrated on the flow of incoming traffic— without looking back at you?
Remember - no matter how much it doesn't seem like it - motorists don't want to hit you either. Give them the benefit of the doubt and slow down a bit when you are in a place that you can tell it could be dangerous if motorists are distracted.

Cars Turning Left
Typically, seeing a car that is turning left is not too difficult to do. However, if you are riding in dense traffic, sometimes the traffic going in your same direction can hide a left-turning motorist from your view. If you have to ride in traffic like that, look for an opening in the traffic in front of you. The likeliest reason for this space is to allow a vehicle to cross the road, right in front of you.

Attentive Posture
Many of us who have ridden for a long time know fellow riders who tend to crash more than others. Typically, these are the inattentive riders. This might be excused, but for the consequences. At some point inattentiveness, and the disinclination to practice defensive riding, shifts the blame onto the cyclist. When you decide to engage in the sport of cycling, you're the one who'll pay the steepest price in an accident, regardless of whom is at fault.
The safest posture is to assume the worst from those on the other side. Then, you'll be pleasantly surprised when these drivers do the right thing and, more to the point, you're more likely to arrive home safe and sound and able to ride another day.